Rack for counters

ABSTRACT

Rack for holding a plurality of counters in rows and columns. The rack comprises a number of casings, each with a rectangular bottom part divided into compartments the construction of which is made in such a way that it facilitates an easy pushing-in of a counter into a compartment. A single lid provided with windowopenings for reading of the counters protects all the counters in one casing. The casings are provided with hinges so that they can be swung out for connection or inspection.

[451 Mar. 21, 1972 United States Patent Hansen et al.

[54] RACK FOR COUNTERS [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Inventors: Arne Sven Hansen, Farsta; Walter Emil Pegert, Skarholmen, both of Sweden Telefonaktiebolaget 312/117 ......3l2/234 ....21 1/49 UX ...312/l27 X 271,081 LM Ericsson, 2,034,669 Slagle Andersonvm...

2,657,110 10/1953 Feder [73] Assignee:

Stockholm, Sweden Apr. 6, 1970 22 Filed:

Primary Exami nerPaul R. Gilliam Attorney-Hane & Baxley [21] App1.No.:

[57] ABSTRACT Rack for holding a plurality of counters in rows and columns.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures r e egme 3 tfi tri 1% a 1 xi'fii Patented March 21, 1972 EEEEQ \QQQ q q 33 q T 5 Wk r M m E m mm T W A mam 5 m T AMW Y. B 4 E F RACK FOR COUNTERS The present invention concerns a rack for holding a plurality of counters, for example call meters, in rows and columns.

Installation of a large number of counters in a rack is commonly carried out by mounting on bars, which is space-requiring and necessitates attachment of every individual counter to the bar. Furthermore a protective cover for each individual counter is necessary.

The purpose of the invention is to eliminate said disadvantages by providing a rack in which a great number of counters can be mounted rapidly and with the least possible manual operations. Another purpose is to protect at the same time the counters against dirt without making individual covers necessary. Still purpose is to achieve an exact mutual position of the counters in order to make more convenient the photographing of the counters.

The rack according to the invention is defined in the accompanying claims.

The invention will be described herebelow by means of an embodiment with reference to the enclosed drawing on which FIG. I shows a perspective view ofa rack according to the invention, 7

FIG. 2 shows a section through part of casing, and a lid com prised in the rack, v

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a part of the lid of the casing seen from the inner side and FIG. 4 shows a section of the bottom part of the casing.

FIG. I shows a part of a rack 17 according to the invention in perspective. This rack mounts a plurality of casings 1 one of the casings being shown I in working position and another in a swung-out position in which it is accessible from the backside. Such casing has a bottom part 2 and a lid 3. It is shown on a larger scale in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The casings can be swung in and out by means of hinges 16. The bottom part 2 is divided into rectangular compartments 15 by means of intersecting partitions 4. These compartments serve to accommodate counters 5 The lid is provided with window-openings 6 for reading of the counters. At the mounting the counters are placed in their respective compartments and then the lid 3 is pushed in and is fastened with suitable and conventional fastening means, for example spring holders 7. In order to center the counters relative to the window-openings, cross shaped guide members each consisting of four wedges 8 is arranged on the inside of the lid opposite to each crossing point between the partitions in the bottom part. The narrow ends 8a of the wedges are directed towards the bottom part in order to make it possible for these wedges upon pushing the lid into position to engage the counters which not yet are completely centered relative to the window-openings 6 and to force the counters upon complete pushing in of the lid are into a centered position in which the digits of the counters are exactly in the window-openings. Thus itwill be possible to photograph a large number of counter digits located in a well defined position. Each of the casings 1 is provided with a sheet 10 of transparent material having holes for the cross-shaped members 8. The transparent sheet rests directly against the windowopenings and facilitates a dust-proof closing of the casing.

We claim:

1. A mounting assembly for mounting a plurality of counters, said assembly comprising in combination:

a rack structure;

a plurality of open casings each including intersecting partition walls dividing the casings into a plurality of compartments each for accommodating a counter therein;

a lid for each of said casings for closing the same, said lids each having window openings one for each compartment;

a plurality of guide members inwardly protruding from said lids, said guide members being disposed to engage upon fitting the lids to the casings side walls of counters inserted into said compartments for guiding each inserted counter into centered registry with the respective window 0 ening.

2. he mounting assembly according to claim I wherein each of said guide members is tapered at its end for imparting lateral movements to the counters on engagement with side walls thereof.

3. The mounting assembly according to claim 2 wherein each of said guide members has a cross-shaped cross section and is in alignment with an intersection point of the partition walls when the lids are fitted on the casings.

4. The mounting assembly according to claim I wherein said casings are hinged to the rack structure for individually swinging the casings into and out of a working position on the rack structure.

5. The mounting assembly according to claim I wherein a transparent sheet is placed upon the inside of each lid cover ing the window openings therein, said sheets including passage openings for said guide members. 

1. A mounting assembly for mounting a plurality of counters, said assembly comprising in combination: a rack structure; a plurality of open casings each including intersecting partition walls dividing the casings into a plurality of compartments each for accommodating a counter therein; a lid for each of said casings for closing the same, said lids each having window openings one for each compartment; a plurality of guide members inwardly protruding from said lids, said guide members being disposed to engage upon fitting the lids to the casings side walls of counters inserted into said compartments for guiding each inserted counter into centered registry with the respective window opening.
 2. The mounting assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of said guide members is tapered at its end for imparting lateral movements to the counters on engagement with side walls thereof.
 3. The mounting assembly according to claim 2 wherein each of said guide members has a cross-shaped cross section and is in alignment with an intersection point of the partition walls when the lids are fitted on the casings.
 4. The mounting assembly according to claim 1 wherein said casings are hinged to the rack structure for individually swinging the casings into and out of a working position on the rack structure.
 5. The mounting assembly according to claim 1 wherein a transparent sheet is placed upon the inside of each lid covering the window openings therein, said sheets including passage openings for said guide members. 